Malaysia Shifts Thailand, Becomes The Number One Tourist Destination In Southeast Asia

JAKARTA - Malaysia has again recorded extraordinary achievements. The neighboring country managed to become the number one tourist destination in Southeast Asia, surpassing Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, and Indonesia in the number of foreign tourist visits in early 2025.

Malaysia received more than 10.1 million foreign tourists during the January to March 2025 period. This figure places Malaysia at the top among ASEAN countries.

Thailand is in second place with 9.55 million visits, followed by Vietnam with 6 million tourists, Singapore with 4.31 million, and Indonesia which is still far behind.

This achievement also marks Malaysia's success in restoring the tourism sector after the pandemic and strengthening its image as a leading destination in the region.

Nga Kor Ming, President of the UN-United Nations (UN) General Assembly, said that this success could not be separated from the leadership of the Madani government which was considered successful in implementing good governance and friendly policies for tourists and investors.

"Starting from easing visa rules to strengthening diplomatic relations, the government is paving the way for Malaysia's recognition at the global level," Nga said in a written statement, quoted from the The Star page.

Not only superior in the tourism sector, but Malaysia also shows strong performance in the investment sector. In the 2025 Baseline Profitability Index (BPI) report developed by economist Daniel Altman, Malaysia ranks third in the world as the most attractive country for direct foreign investment (FDI), only losing to India and Rwanda.

At the Southeast Asian level, Malaysia is in the top position, surpassing Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.

"This achievement shows how governance that is transparent, economic stability, and active diplomacy can encourage global trust in Malaysia," Nga added.

In addition, the appointment of Malaysia as President of the UN-Habitat Assembly is also considered as an international recognition of the country's leadership in sustainable urban development.

"This role places Malaysia to deepen international cooperation as well as expand our influence on the global stage," he said.

With these various achievements, Malaysia has now emerged as a new force for Southeast Asia. Not only in the field of investment, but also as a tourism center and regional diplomacy.

Meanwhile, Indonesia's position left behind in the number of tourist visits is expected to be a trigger for the national tourism sector to be more aggressive in working on tourism potential and strengthening the attractiveness of domestic destinations in the eyes of the world.